Knitting machine and method of knitting



April 27, 1948. R. H. LAWSON KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING- Filed Nov. 15, 1943 15 She ets-Sheet 1 7 5 4 v w A w k M W w 4 o I 1 I 0 4 I. 2 4/ J MW i i a 0 ll. |1l|ll|T Q 6 I .H ,2 4b W a, a l 03 a J i 0 War/J M mg L 1 0 0 0 I a! 7. Z w a w w 5 w w M w 7 a W 7 9 w w/ INVENTOR ROBERT H. LAWSON MM ATTORNEYS April 27, 1948. R. H. LAWSON KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING Filed Nov. 13 1943 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY ROBERT H. LAWSON M Ma 3 ATTORNEYS April 27, 1948. R. H. LAWSON 2,440,280

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING Filed Nov. 15 1943 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 v INVENTOR ROBERT H. LAWSON ATTORNEYS April 27, 1948. LAWSON 2,440,280

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING Filed Nov. 13 1943 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 TEL .4. 1% L56 =1 15/ 750 I p T \T \J \7 7 \T v V a? III! I 1u|IllIIllllllillIllIIllllllllllllllllllllllllflhh W =1.ullllllflllllllillllllllllh. f'o/P sw/rcw coma) d #0? SLACK (Oz/RS5) 1 INVENTOR BY ROBERT H. LAWSON HIS ATTORNEYS April 27, 1948.

R. H. LAWSON KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING Filed Nov. 13 1945 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 H '5 ATTORNEYS April 8- N R. H. LAWSON 2,440,280

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING Filed Nov. 15, 1943 15 Sheets-She et 6 4:, 1 T-f l- A v TJCLll. 74 7/ 7 J9 W J W fiLJII I 5.1 .15. INVENTOR ROBERT H. LAWSON BY M N h I6 ATTORNEYS I April 27, 1948. R. H. LAWSON 2,440,380

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING Filed Nov. 13, 1943 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 mun A v I:

INVENTOR ROBERT H. LAWSON H'IS ATTORNEYS April 27, 1948. R. H. LAWSON KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING Filed Nov. 13 1943 II n ' INVENTOR H. LAWSON ROBERT M H1; ATTORNEYS April 27, 1948.- R. H. LAWSON 2,440,280

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNI TTING Filed NOV. 13, 1943 l5 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR -j- ROBERT H. LAWSON H's ATTORNEYS April 27, 1948. R. H. LAWSON 2,440,230

, I KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING Filed Nov; 15, 1943 15 SheetsSheet l0 INVENTOR BY ROBERT H. LAWSON M 3 ATTORNEYS NTOR BY ROBERT H. LAWSON April 27, 1948.

R. H. LAWSON 2,440,280

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. I iwm w u 3 Vfi ukvr lll a 1% Q fi w u l s Patented Apr. 27, 1948 KNITTING li IACHINE AND METHOD OF KNITTING Robert H. Lawson, Lakepcrt, N. H., assignor to Scott & Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N.'H., a corporation of Massachusetts 7 Application November 13, 1943, Serial No. 510,166 l 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of knitting and to a machine on which the method may be carried into effect. The invention is directed, more specifically, to the knitting of sutures, such as seamless heel and toe sutures, on independent needle, circular hosiery knitting machines, e. g., machines having rotary or stationary needle cylinders, aswell as to the knitting of garments such as fashioned underwear.

The primary purpose of the invention is to effect a saving of time in the knitting of stockings and other articles, for example, those having portions knitted by reciprocations of a needle cylinder and more particularly where, during such reciprocations, needles are progressively picked up out of knitting position and then moved back into knitting position 'to effect sutures such as those present in so-called seamless stockings. The saving of time in the manufacture of the stockings and other articles is effected by feeding a plurality of yarns, each at a separate feeding station, and in such a manner that during reciprocation of the needle cylinder two or more courses are knitted during each rotary movement of the needle cylinder instead of one course as is now the common practice.

In the following description, the knitting of several variations of sutures, such as heel and toe sutures, is describedmerely by way of illustration, as the versatility of the machine and the adaptability of the methods disclosed permit of such a great number of suture variations that it would not be practicable completely to disclose all of the possible variations. Accordingly, the

following description will be limited to a few" selected forms of sutures, in each of which a great many suture variations are possible, as by varying the selective control and construction of the picking instrumentalities.

In the drawings: r M.

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a knitting machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation taken from the other side of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the bed plate of the machine and parts carried thereby;

Fig. 4 is a view of the pattern chain that determines the operation of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a developed View of drum cams that-1 Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the cams for controlling the movements of the widening pick and switch'cams;

Fig. 8 is a view showing the cam for efiecting the knitting of a loose course;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view showing part of the pattern chain and the means for advancing the main pattern drum as determined by the pattern chain;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentar view of the latch ring showing the yarn feeding portions thereof;

Fig. 11 is a view from the inside of the needle cylinder showing a' modification of the latch ring of Fig. 10 and the knitting of two yarns, the needles being shown traveling in a counter-clockwise direction;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but showing the needles moving in the opposite direction;

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the sinker cap, the sinker cams and sinker raceway being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the under side of the sinker cap of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a perspective, fragmentary view, complemental to Fig. 14, showing the needle cams and their relation to the sinker cams in the sinker cap of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 isa view showing the leading heel or toe needle engaging a narrowing pick preparatory to the pick elevating the said needle, and the next following needle, to an inactive position; Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16 but showing the pick at the other side of the machine, and the needles moving in a direction opposite to their movement in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 16 but showing the pickpositioned for the picking of a single needle only;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18, showing in dotted linesthe path of movement of the pick and leading needle when the latter is moved to an inactive position;

Fig. 20 is aview similar to Fig. 19, but showing the elevation of two leading heel and toe needles;

Fig. 21 is a view showing the action of the widening pick in returning needles from their inactive position to the knitting level;

Fig. 22 is a viewin plan showing a portion of the bedplate, as, well as the widening pick and switch cams carried by the bedplate;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the widening pick and switch cam brackets; Fig. 24 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing the switch cams of Figs. 22 and 23.

Fig. 25 is a corresponding view of the widening pick;

Fig. 26 is a view in plan showing the bedplate and cams and narrowing picks carried thereby;

Fig. 27 is a view similar to Fig. 26 but in perspective;

Fig. 28 is an enlarged view showing a narrowing pick of Figs. 26 and 27 and means for moving the pick to elevate one or two needles at a time;

Fig. 29 is an enlarged view of a detail shown in Fig. 26;

Fig. 30 is a partial plan view of a stocking diagrammatically illustrating the methods of knitting;

Fig. 31 is a diagrammatic view indicating the sequence of courses knitted with two yarns;

Fig. 32 is a view similar to Fig. 31, but indicat ing the knitting of three yarns;

Fig. 33 is a view showing diagrammatically one method of knitting the heel or toe of the stocking of Fig. 30;

Fig. 34 is a detail view illustrating the relation of the yarn to the needles upon the elevation of two needles to an inactive position by a pick;

Fig. 35 is a view similar to Fig. 33 but illustrating a modified method;

Fig. 36 is a view similar to Figs. 33 and 35 but illustrating another method; and

Fig. 3'7 is a diagrammatic view drawn to a larger scale and showingthe arrangement of the loops along the suture line of a fragment of a heel or toe in accordance with this invention.

In the drawings, a machine designed to carry out the principles of the present invention and thus effect the knitting of the stocking illustrated in- Figs. 30, 31 and 32, is indicated generally by the numeral I. The machine shown includes a bedplate 2 to which is attached a cam ring 3 which includes curved cams I, Fig. 27, connected to an upwardly extending flange 5, carried by the bedplate 2. The upper edges of th said-curved cams 5 and latch clearing cams I4, I5 form the lower art of a raceway for the needle butts 6, 6' of needles N in a needle cylinder 260, see Fig. 3. The upper part of the raceway is defined by the center stitch cam 9, guard or wing-cams I0, II and stitch cams I 2, I3. The centerstitch cam 9 is fastened to a block I6, the block I6 and stitch cams I2, I3 being afiixed to an arcuate plate I7 which is fastenedto the bedplate 2 by screws. To posts I8, I9, Fig. 3, carried by bedplate 2, are fixedly secured the guard or wing cams III and II respectively. The cams mentioned, with the exception of the cams I4 and I5, are fixed. The cams I4 and I5 are pivoted, Figs. 26, 2'7, on the posts I8, I9, respectively, and are pivotally connected to the ends of an adjustable two-part link 20 by means of pins 2I and 22 respectively. On the pins 2 I and 22 are mounted levers 23 and 24 respectively, cotter pins retaining said levers and link 28 in place on the said pins 2| and 22. The outer ends of the levers 23, 24 are reduced and the reduced ends are seated in holes in the upper ends of flat springs 25 and 26 connected to and upstanding from the bedplate 2. Passing through the reduced ends of the levers 23 and 24 are pins 27 and 28 which seat against the respective springs 25 and 26. so that the springs by pressing against the pins 21, 28, retain levers 23, 24 in the position shown, Figs. 26, 27, or alternately in the position assumed when cam I4 is in operative position. The construction is such that, durin reciprocations of the needle cylinder, one cam I I or I5, as the case may be, moves to the active position shown by the cam I5 in Fig. 2'7 which movement, due to the connecting link 20 moves the other cam I4 to the inactive position shown in part by dotted lines, Fig. 26.

To knit the stocking 29, Fig. 30, the needle cylinder 26B rotates within the cam ring 3 during circular knitting of the leg 30 and foot 3I of the stocking and reciprocates during the knitting of the heel 32 and toe 33 of the stocking. The narrowed and widened portions of the heel 32 are joined in a suture 34, the corresponding toe suture being indicated at 35. Preceding the knitting ofthe toe, the usual ring toe may be knitted.

The cam ring 3 comprises fixed and movable cams that act upon the butts of the needles N to move the needles to and from the positions in which the needles engage and knit the yarns Y and Y to effect the knitting of the stocking 29. Cooperating with the needles are sinkers 33, Fig. 3, which are mounted in slots in a sinker head 31 as usual, the sinkers being provided with butts 38, Fig. 13, movable in the cam raceway 39 of the sinker cap 49. During circular knitting of the leg and foot of the stocking, the sinker cap 43 is held against rotation by a stop lug AI engaging the side face of a post 42 attached to the bedplate 2 by screws and upstanding therefrom. During reciprocatory knitting the sinker cap ti! oscillates slightly (limited by step lugs 4|, 43, engaging opposite sides of post 42) upon reciprocation of the needle cylinder, to maintain the cam raceway 39 of the sinker cap 40 in proper timed relation with the needle actuating cams as the relation of the yarns to the needles changes upon each reversal of the movement of the needle cylinder. The sinker head 31, within which the sinkers are mounted, is attached to and forms part of the needle cylinder 230, rotating and reciprocating therewith. The sinker cap 4!! is secured to the sinker head 31 by angle plate M in the usual manner.

To effect the knitting of the heel and toe of the stocking shown in Fig. 30, narrowing or up picks 45, 46, Figs. 3, 16-20, 26 and 27, are employed. These picks are controlled to effect the prescribed picking sequences, as will be hereinafter more specifically described. Cooperating with the narrowing or up picks during the knitting of the second or widened half or portion of the heel and toe of the stocking is a widening or down pick 41, Figs. 21-25, and acting in conjunction with the picks are switch cams c3, 19, Figs. 22, 23, 2e mounted in a bracket 49' carried by bedplate 2. The operation of cams 43, 49 and their cooperation with the picks will be hereinafter more fully described.

Carried by and upstanding from the bedplate 2 are posts 50, 5|, Figs. 3, 26, 27 and 28 to which respectively are connected the narrowing or uppicks 45 and 46 which are pivotally mounted in swiveled housings 52 and 53 respectively, the construction being such that when a needle butt engages and causes one of the picks to ascend and swing to an up position and then to an inoperative position, the other pick is moved to an operative position.- The pivotal mounting of the picks in their respective housing permits the picks to move upwardly and thereby raise the needles as indicated by the full and dotted line positions of the pick 46, Fig. 19. The raising of the picks, incidental to their horizontal swivel movements, is effected by identical cam plates 54, 55 having pick raising cams 58, 57 and stops 53, 53 to prevent overthrow of the picks. Springs 60 retain the picks in contact with their respective cam plates. Two-part adjustable links EI are pivotally connected together and to a plate 62 by a screw, said plate 62 oscillating on a post 63 (upstanding from bedplate 2) as each pick moves to and from a picking position, At their remote ends said links are pivotally connected to the respective housings 52, 53 by pins 64, 65, slots in the ends of the links permitting play and cotter pins retaining the links in place.

The picks 45 and 46, Figs. 1620, 26 and 27, are shown with two steps. When a pick is positioned as shown in Fig. 19, a single butt only is engaged by the lower step of the pick, whereas when the pick is in the position shown in Fig. a butt is engaged by each step of the pick, and their needles raised to an inactive position. To effect the selective positioning of the picks to pick one or two needles,as the case may be, duplicate cams 66, 61, Figs. 3, 26 and 28, are provided, said cams being pivoted to the plate l1. Each cam 66, 61 is rounded, as shown at 68, Fig. 20. and has a flat upper surface 69 against which the companion pick rests when positioned to pick single needles. By swinging either cam 66, 61 on its pivot to engage the pick, the respective picks are elevated to the single-needle picking position of Fig, 19 from the two needle picking position of Fig. 20.

Pivotally connected to the respective cams B6 and 61 are arcuate links m, H, the other ends of which links are pivotally connected to a disc 12, rotatively supported on the upstanding post 63. A link 13 is pivotally connected to the disc 12 to turn the same and, consequently, simultaneously swing the cams 66 and 61 so that their companion picks 45, 46 shall be moved either to the position shown in Fig. 19 or to the position shown in Fig. 20.

The switch cam 49 comes into play preparatory to heel and toe knitting to raise the long butt or instep needles to an inactiveposition and the switch cam 48 restores the idle needles to knitting position at the termination of the knitting of the heels and toes of stockings. The widening or downpick 41 is moved to picking position during the knitting of the second or widened portions of the heels and toes of stockings and thereafter is moved to a non-picking position.

To effect the necessary movements of the pick 41 and cams 48, 49, there is provided a movable rod 14 having a hub 75 adjustably fastened thereto, the hub having arms 56, H. The arm 11 when raised engages a lever arm 18,'rocking the same and causing a pin 19 andattached cam 49 to be advanced to elevate the long butt needles. At the same time the arm 16 compresses a coiled spring 80 surrounding a pin 8| which'carries a button 82 at the upper end thereof, the pin 8| being movable through the arm 16, Compression of the spring 80 causes the button 82 to rock an arm 83 and move the widening pick 4'! to a nonpicking position. When the arm 16 moves down, through the action of spring 84, Fig. 1, the pressure exerted by the spring 8|] is'released, as a consequence of which the arm 83 drops and the widening pick is moved to the picking position of Fig. 25, a spring 88 effecting the movement of the pick. The arm 1'! moves down with the. arm 16.

and continued downward movement of the arm Ti, following release of the widening pick 41, rocks lever 85, thereby rocking the intergeared lever 86, which engages pin 81, advancing the switch cam 48, against the retractile force of spring 48, to move the previously idled needles to the knitting level.

The switch cams and widening pick are similar in construction and operation to the corresponding switch cams and widening picks disclosed in the Page et a1. Patent 1,841,205 of January 12, 1932.

For the knitting of the stocking of Figs. 30, 31 and 32, yarns Y and Y are fed to the needles, Figs. 10, 11 and 12, the yarn Y passing through a guide 89 pivotally mounted in an extension 90, and extending into a throat 9la of a latch ring 91 which has the customary latch guard 92. The yarn Y may be fed through a slot 93 in the latch ring 9|, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 10, or through a guide 94 in second throat Slb in the latch ring, as indicated in Figs. 11 and 12.

The two yarns Y, Y are separate-course yarns, two courses being knitted during each rotation or rotary movement of the needle cylinder, as

illustrated more or less diagrammatically in Figs.

30 and 31. Fig. 11 illustrates the knitting of two courses while the needles are traveling in a counterclockwise direction for circular knitting and one movement of reciprocatory knitting for knitting the heel and toe. As shown in Fig. 11, the butts of the needles, in moving from right to left, are engaged and their needles elevated by cam l3, then depressed by cam H and further depressed by the stitch cam 9, yarn being engaged in the hooks of the needles and drawn through previous course stitches. Thereafter the needles shown are elevated by the cam 95, constituting part of cam ring 3, are further elevated by movable cam l4, and are again depressed by cams i0 and [2, the needles engaging yarn Y in their hooks and drawing bights of the yarn through the stitches drawn by the needles of the yarn Y as they were depressed by the cams l I and 9. Upon the needle cylinder reversing its direction of movement, the short butt needles move from the left to the right, Fig. 12, the said butts riding up the cam 12 and being depressed by cams I0 and 9 with the needles drawing bights of yarn Y through previous course loops. The butts then ride up cam 96 of the cam ring 3, are further elevated by movable cam l5 and are then depressed by cams H and [3, drawing bights of yarn Y through the stitches drawn of the yarn Y as the needles were depressed by the cams H1 and 9. Thus during reciprocations of the needle cylinder for example, as during the knitting of heels and toes, two courses are knitted for each rotary movementoi the needle cylinder in either direction, 1. e. as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. During continuous circular movement of the needle cylinder in the direction illustrated in Fig.

' 11, the yarns Y and Y are alternately knitted by each needle, each yarn alone appearing in alternate courses, whereas during reciprocatory knitting the yarn Y is first knitted as the needles move in the direction of Fig. 11, followed by the knitting of the yarn Y. Upon the needle cylinder reversing its direction of movement, the yarn Y is again knitted, Fig. 12, followed by the knitting of yarn Y. In other words, during the knitting of heels and toes there are groups of two consecutive courses alternately knitted of the yarns Y and Y each yarn alone appearing in its courses. I To cause the needle cylinder 2511 to rotate during the knitting of the leg and foot of the stocking 29 and to reciprocate during the knitting of the heel and toe, the machine is equipped with the usual driving clutch and clutch shifting mechanism for driving the needle cylinder and for changing the movements thereof from rotary to reciprocating and back to rotary, as shown in the '1 patent, to: Scott. 1,152,850.; Sept. 7, 1915. Such mechanism includes-bevehgear A high speedgear B landrquadrant vC. shown at 3'1, 65 :and '7 5 respectively in the said patent to Scott.

The necessary cam and pick movements to eliectr-theaknitting of. a stocking; such as29'are controlledrby ap'attern.-drum 9:1, Figsr 19rinc1u'- sivc'; vvwhichzis periodically: advanced in i the direction of-the arrow, ,Eig. 1; cams on the drum. e-lfecting- 'and: timingthe necessary: movements of the switcheamss lm 49 and: narrowing pick earns 66, 6'1; as; well as: the loose course movement 1 ofthe needle'..cylinderr 26.9; i all as wi11;n0w be described.

Upon advancing movements being, imparted to the drum; 911-, cams98 and'99' rock lever I90 by engaging .thertoe-thereoi, Thelever IE is pivotelly; mounted ona shaft IEII' and has pivoted thereto: the: rod I4 which, through connections hereinbefore:described; efiects movements of the switchicamstfl andr49 and-widening pick Ail.

Gains; I92 and; lfialon thedrum 9? engage a thI'ZUSt-Ebfil" Id l which thrust: bar is pivoted at I35 tOLOIlG. arm, of a. bell crank lever lilt; The lever ififiiispivotallyg mounted on stub shaft" I9? pro- ;iectingzlatera-lly fromthe bracket I93 to which the latch:ring. 9I is pivoted. Engagement of the thnust'barrllld bythe'cams Ill2iand E93 effects a rockingsof theileveri I06: and the operation of the wirezrod 'ls pivotally connected to the other arm of thev levers! 0 6, the rod:'I3 passing loosely through atswiveljscrew lilll projecting from said lever Gilli. Collars III; I-I2:and II 3; Fig; 3, adjustably fastenedio the'rod-l 13' on each side of the swivel screw lllfi; retainithe rod in position while permitting someplay of=therodiin the swivel screw.

Theother end-of the rod 13" is upturned and connected to:the-:disc I2, Fig. 28, the connection ei feeting turning movements of the disc I2 upon thcrocking'of the bell 'crank lever' I96 by the cams Hi2randd83. The turning 'of' the disc I2 acts upon the-arcuate links III, 'II- to position the picks 45, 45 for singleor double needle picking. A collar M l is connected to,post;63. by screw I I5 and provides a'seat for the disc I2. A' spring I I6, Fig. 1, is connected at- II! to thrust bar I94 and to a thrust-bare spacer H8 which is attached to'a rod I iQ -carriedbya convenient partof the machine frame; Thespring Hfi consequently retains the thrustbar' IM-in engagement with the drum 9? or cams-g thereon,,permitting the picks 45,46, to drop for double picking;

A cam Hitch-drum 9.1'1'ocks a lever 82 I pivoted on red II9-;,the'1ever having laterally projecting lug: I22 through which passes an'adjustable screw I 23'positioned to engage an arm I24 connected to and projectingiroma-fabric tube I25 to which the needle cylinder Zfill-is connected. Consefluently therocking of: the lever I21 effects a slight elevation of theneedle cylinder to cause the: needles-to draw longer-stitches of i the yarns and'Y' for "the usual loose courses at the toe ofthe stocking thus facilitating looping of the toe.

The" advancing'movements of the drum 91 as well as the-directional changes-in the rotation of the needle cylinder, yarn changes, etc., are all primarily controlled by a pattern chain I25 which chain is mounted on a. sprocket I21 loosely carried by ashaft I29.

The pattern chain I253. is intermittently advanced; as-described in connection with the chain 438 in the patent to Scott 1,148,055, July 27, 1915-. The movements imparted to the chain IZB'bring lugscarriedth'erebyto a positionto cause a pawl I29; Fig. 9, to advance; aratchet wheel I 39, as disclosed intheScottpatent.

The prescribed and timed; advancing, move; mentsareimparted to pattern drum 91 asgoverm ed-by the pattern chain I26 l-which is DIOViQBdrWith the usual plainilinks I3I; each linkrepresenting the-knitting of twelve courses. Withlinks I3 I the chain I26 is provided with a number ofllinks having lugs which rock a pawlholder-IBZ, pivoted on a shaft I33, Fig. 2, causing the-toe l34 thereof to drop, thereby permitting the-paw1"I29-to engage the teeth of the ratchet wh'eelI3ll. Theheight-of th lugs-on the chain I26 determinestherextentzof drop of the pawl I29, as aconsequence of; which the ratchetwheel I30, may beadvancedmircumferentiallythrough arcs measured by: a' short tooth, an intermediate tooth,- or'a long". tooth. The ratchet wheel I30 is connected tor-rotatza shaft I28, to which is also aflixed agear-xlfifi; Fig. 1, meshing-with an intermediate gear l3fillo'os'ely mounted on a shaft I III, the gea'r [36"ih213l11l1 meshing with a gear l 3 laffixedl toi the shaft I38 upon which the pattern drum 91 is: mounted. Thus,- as' controlled by the chain I28, advancing movements imparted-to the ratchet its; by the pawl I29 advance'the; drum 91'thr0ugh:a corresponding arc. Although primarily: controlled from chain I26,- the-movements imparted' 'to the drum 9! are dependent upon the. arrangementnof long, intermediate and short teeth'of the: ratchet wheel I39'and the lugs on'thepattern'zchain I26 In other words, if'adifierent arrangementoflong', short and intermediate teeth: were provided on the ratchet wheel, the complementarylugs onitlie pattern chain-would be difierently arrangedi It sometimes happens; as: will be presently-ne scribed; that the pawlfl 29; when dropped by 'a-lug on the pattern chain I25;wi11not engage the next tooth on the ratchet I39. To efiect the movement of the-shaft I28 an'auxiliary pawl I39; Fig; 2, is availed of, which advances the-shaft I28; and, as a consequence thereof the ratchet I39::to such-a position that upon' the next reciprocation of the constantly reciprocating: pawl I 29 a: further" advance of the ratchet? I 39; and consequently of the drum 91, is-effected.

The pawl I39-is pivotally connected-tow bell crank lever l40- which: is: pivotally. mounted on the shaft I 38 swinging movements; of the lever I4Iland' consequently of the pawl I39; being limited by a pin: I4-I onthe-shaft I331 engaging a slotted collar l lz'carried by the lever I'G'IL The other 'arm of the lever M-Il'carries an adjustable follower I43= engaged by: cams HM or k3 5 every other course of knitting; Engagement of the follower I43 by cams HM; I45rocks the lever: I40, moving the pawl I 39-andadvancing anauxiliary rack wheel Idli whenever teeth I42, IIIBior-IBB are in aposition'to' be engaged by pawl'lt't'n The pawl I3 9 is maintained'in positionito'engage said teeth, by arspring I49.

The operation of the various parts tozeflectthe knittingv of the stocking 29 showninFig. Blkwill now be described. Phe'stocking shown :.in-.Ei'g: 30 is knitted as stringwork; the tOPlOf-a stockingziin; mediatelyfollowing the loopersrounds" ofithe pre ceding stocking; To complete :thestockingzela's tic. yarn may be incorporated in the selva'ge course, e. g. asdisclosed in-the patentcto Getaz 2,054,217, or the top- (notshown? may heat tached tothe top portion .of. the'leg; as bycsewing. Alternatively, the-top of the stocking-may be 'fint ished'by a turned: weltv or the needlesmay be levelled off in the usual manner and rib tops transferred, to the machin prior tothe knitting of the legs of the stockings. j

To effect the knitting, of: the, stocking..29, .the

chain I26, Fig. 4, is 'provided with a lug I50'which fills one chain link and a lug II, having a low step I5I', on the next following chain link. The high portion of the lug I5I is of the same height as the lug I50. The high portions of the lug, such as I5l, efiect a full drop of the pawl I29 so that, upon the next reciprocation thereof, the pawl will have a throw sufiiciently long to advance the rack wheel I 30 through an are measured by four short teeth, such as indicated by the numeral I52, Fig. 9, or one long tooth, such as indicated by the numeral I53. Although the pawl I29 has the capacity for advancing the ratchet I30, as just stated, the actual advance of the ratchet I30 depends upon the location of the various teeth on the ratchet; in other words, the pawl I 29 in a reciprocation may move sufllciently to advance the ratchet I30 through an are measured by four short teeth, but, if the teeth on the ratchet I30 are not appropriately positioned with respect to the pawl, the ratchet will not be advanced through the mentioned arc. As there are three kicks or reciprocations of the pawl I29 for each chain link, the long lug I 50 accounts for three long reciprocations of the pawl I29 and the high portion of the following lug I5I accounts for another long reciprocation of the pawl. The low step I5I' efi'ects a partial dropping of the pawl I29 and to an extent sufiicient to permit the said pawl to advance the ratchet I30 through an are measured by two short teeth, the advance of the ratchet depending upon the presence of an appropriately positioned tooth on the ratchet I30.

Although, as shown in Fig, 4, the lugs I50 and I5I are attached to the first two links of thechain N6, the resulting movements of the ratchet I30 are merely for the purpose ofadvancing the drum 91 to such a position that a subsequent movement thereof will affect the'knitting operation; in other words, the lugs I50 and I5I could be attached to any others of the links in advance of the link to which the lug I54 is attached.

The stepped lug I54 comes into play to eifect the beginning of the knitting of the heel 32 of the stocking, the chain I20 having been advanced in the usual manner during the knitting of the leg. The low step I54 of the lug drops the pawl I29 to advance the ratchet I30 through the distance measured by two of the short teeth, whereas the higher portion of the lug I54 causes the pawl I29 to advance the ratchet I30 through the longest rack, i. e. measured by four short teeth. While the pawl holder I32 remains on the low step I54 of lug I54 the pawl I29 cannot again advance the rack wheel I30 as a tooth is not appropriately positioned thereon to permit the said pawl to advance said rack wheel I30, but the advance of the rack wheel controlled by the low step I54 of the lug I54 advances the auxiliary rack wheel I46 to a position in which the tooth I41 is engaged by the pawl I39 on the next operation thereof to advance the rack wheel I46 and rack wheel I80. This advance of rack wheel I30 is virtually a continuation of the previous rack or advance of rack wheel I30. Such advance of rack wheel E39 and the dropping of the toe I34 of pawl holder 432 as it is lowered by the high step of lug I54, permits pawl I29 to advance the ratchet I30. Advance of the rack wheel I30 turns shaft I28 and, through the gearing connections hereinbefore described, advances the drum 91 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, to move the lever I09 from position I55, Fig. 7, to a position on top of the cam 98. The consequent'rockingbf the lever I00 causes the cam 49 to be advanced to 10 raise the long butt needles preparatory to knitting of the heel 32, the widening pick being out of action. The narrowing picks 45, 46 are at this time positioned to elevate two needles at the leading end of the active short butt needles at each back and each forth movement of the needle cylinder until the narrowing is completed, at which time the pattern chain I29 has been advanced to such a position that another lug I56 on the said chain acts upon the pawl holder I32 to permit the pawl I29 to drop to a position to advance the ratchet I30, which movement advances the drum 91, through the connections hereinbefore described. The advance of the drum 91 causes the cam I03 to act upon the toe of the thrust rod I04, therebyrocking the bell crank lever I06, and through the link 13 to rock the cams 66, 51 tomove the picks 45, 46 from the dotted to the full line position of Fig. 28, so that the said picks shall pick up single needles at each back and each forth movement of the needle cylinder throughout the second or widening portion of the heel. The mentioned picking, while descriptive of one method, may be varied, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The next operation of the pawl I29 (the pawl remaining down because of lug I56) engages another tooth of the rack wheel I30, again advancing the same. This advance of the rack wheel does not advance the drum 9'I far enough to afiect the knitting. The auxiliary rack pawl I39, however, engages tooth I46 advancing rack wheel I46, and consequently main rack wheel I30 and drum 91 causing the toe of the lever I00 to drop on to the lower step I 58 of the cam 98. This movement of the lever I00 permits the widening pick 41 to move up to its normal picking position of Fig. 25, where it picks down, or moves to knitting position, three of the previously elevated short butt needles, such picking occurring at each back and each forth movement of the needle cylinder throughout the knitting .of the second half or portion ofthe heel 32. a

Continued movements of the pattern chain I26 bring a stepped lug I59 to such a position as to permit the pawl I29 to drop into engagement with a tooth of the main rack wheel I30 and advance the same. The low step I59 of the lug does not cause the pawl I29 to advance the rack wheel I30 merely easing the climb of the toe of pawl holder I32 onto the high step of the lug I59 which drops the pawl I29 to a position to engage a long tooth of the rack wheel I30 to advance the said rack wheel, consequently advancing the drum 91 to such a position that the toe of the lever I00 drops onto the surface of the drum at I60, and, through the connections described, causes the switch cam 48 to advance and restore the long butt needles to a knitting position. Circular knitting is then resumed by the needle cylinder continuously rotating in the same direction while the foot 3I of the stocking is being knitted.

Further advance of the pattern chain I26 during the knitting of the foot brings a lug I6I to a position to permit the pawl I29 again to advance the main rack wheel I30. The lower step I6I' of the lug IBI does not drop the pawl I29 to a position to advance the rack wheel, the advance being effected by the high portion of the lug I6I dropping the pawl I29 to a position to advance the rack wheel and consequently drum 91. The advance of the drum 91 causes the toe of the lever I00 to rise up onthe cam 99, resting thereon at I62, and causing the cam 49 to be advanced adj acent to the short butt needles to elevate the long 

